Keep Active this Winter

31 May 2021
Aquatics, Health & Fitness, Sports Gym, Health & Fitness, Health & Wellness, Wellness

It is a known fact that when winter comes around and the temperature starts to drop, so does the motivation to get out and be active. Plenty of excuses start to circle around in your mind as to why you should just stay in bed for that little bit longer... including ‘it's too cold outside’ or ‘I’m too busy at the moment’. Well, we are here to tell you why it's important to keep your activity levels up during winter, and to provide you with some great tips on how to make it easier for yourself! 

Keeping consistently active throughout the year (yes, including those cooler winter months) has plenty of benefits to your health. The first benefit is injury prevention. Decreasing your levels of physical activity results in muscles and joints not getting the exposure to movement and load that they should, leaving us more susceptible to injury, aches and pains. The second benefit of keeping active is a decrease in other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more. We know it can be a tough mental battle to stay active during winter so here are some tips on making it easier. 
 

Plan to exercise indoors 

Whether you join the gym or exercise from home, planning to exercise in an indoor environment can make it much more appealing to get up and get active. Being indoors keeps you out of the cold and unpredictable winter weather, and ensures you have an enjoyable, temperature-controlled workout. This is another way to avoid exercising in the dark as gyms are fully lit and allow you to feel safer when exercising early in the morning or at night.  
 


Get yourself a workout buddy 

When you’ve only got yourself to rely on it is very easy to simply abandon your plans to get active, but as soon as there are others involved, you’re less likely to want to bail on your plans. A workout buddy can also provide social support, camaraderie and distraction from the less-than-ideal weather. There is also the additional benefit of making friends and hanging out with like-minded people.  

 

Swim Indoors 

If exercising in the cold just isn't something you're willing to do, indoor swimming can be a great cardio option. Swimming is one of the best sports for a long and healthy life. A warm indoor pool can be the perfect place for a workout when the weather outside doesn’t cooperate. 
 


Stay Hydrated 

It's just as important to keep your fluids up when exercising in winter as it is in summer, even though you might not feel as thirsty. Try to remember to drink water before, during and after a workout. If drinking water seems like a bit of a task, then carry a thermos with warm herbal tea! 

 

Exercise during the day 

It is easy to feel uncomfortable exercising when it’s dark in the morning and you come home from work. A great solution to this is to work out in the middle of the day, during the peak light hours. If the weather is nice, take a long, brisk walk during your lunch hour — this provides the added benefit of fresh air and a bit of nature.  

 

There are plenty of ways to keep active during winter despite the cooler weather. Keep your health a priority and be sure to engage in some sort of physical activity on a daily basis. For more information on how we can help you keep active, please call the centre.  

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